Turkey considers new authority to oversee critical minerals, rare earths

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Turkey is considering the creation of a new critical minerals authority to assess and manage its rare earth and strategic mineral resources as global competition over supply chains intensifies, a senior mining sector representative told the state-run Anadolu news agency.

İbrahim Halil Kırşan, chair of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Mining Council, said the prospective body would coordinate mining, processing and technology policy across multiple ministries, treating access to critical minerals as a national security issue.

Kırşan said rare earth elements are central to industries ranging from electric vehicles and renewable energy to defense systems and industrial robotics, placing them at the heart of growing trade and geopolitical tensions between China, the US and the European Union.

“The world is heading toward a mineral supply crisis similar to the oil shocks of the 1970s,” he said. “Minerals are becoming the new oil.”

China currently controls about 70 percent of global critical mineral production and roughly 90 percent of rare earth refining capacity, according to industry estimates. Kırşan said that dominance has pushed other countries to seek alternative sources and processing partnerships.

Turkey, which sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, ranks eighth globally in mineral diversity, 22nd in reserves and 28th in total mineral value, he said, calling the country a strong candidate for rare earth development.

Kırşan pointed to ongoing work at state-run mining company Eti Maden’s rare earth pilot plant in central Turkey following positive experimental results. He said bringing deposits into full production would require international cooperation, as China does not share refining technology.

“Joint efforts with countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia and European partners that possess this technology will be critical,” he said.

Under the current system, responsibility for rare earths is split among three ministries. The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry oversees raw extraction; the Industry and Technology Ministry handles processing and industrial use; and the Defense Ministry manages defense-related applications.

Kırşan said a dedicated authority, backed by a clear legal framework and staffed by experts from all three ministries, could assess mining potential, align supply with industrial demand and ensure projects move beyond exploration.